Eastern Oregon Coyotes

In the modern, congested world we hunters live in, finding ample public land can prove itself a Holy Grailesque undertaking. Now take this quest a step further and consider the coyote hunter who may go through the process of setting up, calling, then moving a mile a dozen or more times throughout the course of a morning. Here, the phrase "ample ground" takes on an entirely new meaning.

Out West, however, mobile coyote hunters seldom encounter this elbow room dilemma. Take Oregon, for instance. Within the borders of the Beaver State, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently administers some 15 million acres, with another 400,000 just across the river in Washington. Alone, the three BLM districts--Vale, Prineville and Burns--that make up the eastern half of the state comprise almost 65 percent of the total federal lands found in Oregon; that's more than 10 million acres of coyote hunting potential. Certainly, not all those acres are going to provide stellar hunting, nor for that matter may all be hunted. However, the fact remains that any varminter willing to do a little research, a little walking and a little driving shouldn't be disappointed.

Vale District

The Vale District--more than 5 million acres of BLM land--takes in all of the eastern edge of Oregon, from the Washington/Idaho corner south to the Nevada state line. The majority of the federal lands are located to the south of Interstate 84, in what's technically known as the Malheur-Jordan Resource Area. Several times during the past years I've made the trip along I-84 from Ontario at the Idaho border north and west to the Columbia River during January and again in March, and never have I driven that stretch when I haven't seen coyotes, especially where grain crops attract mice and jackrabbits.

Lodging, meals, fuel and anything else can be found in Baker City or Ontario.

Prineville District

Located in east-central Oregon, the Prineville District features plenty of the semiarid high-desert topography that the eastern and southeastern parts of the state are known for. This translates into excellent numbers of small rodents and jacks, which in turn means coyotes.

The stretch of ground east of Bend and south of Highway 20 to the Harney County line (Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer, page 76) provides prime dogging. This, however, isn't land for the timid nor the inexperienced. Four-wheel drive is recommended and often a necessity. Provisions can be had in Bend to the west, or Hines and Burns to the east.

Guns And Gear

Eastern Oregon is big country and demands the coyote hunter to pack some serious equipment. First and foremost are optics--good glass hung around your chest on a harness system. These so-called bino-slings keep the field glasses handy, yet up and out of the way, especially if you find yourself doing a low belly crawl through the sagebrush.

Second is a flat-shooting centerfire rifle, and the ability to shoot it well. Favorites such as the .22-250, .222, .223 and .234 and the new .243 WSSM will all work just fine in this notoriously open ground. Keep in mind the probability of wind, and choose bullet weights accordingly. Finally, good camouflage, preferably a Western pattern--sagebrush, cedar, juniper, with ample open space--is important. The guys at Montana Camo (ghostcamo.com) make some great stuff that blends perfectly with the Oregon terrain.

Information

• Season: No closed season, bag limit or weapon restrictions.
• OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE: 3406 Cherry Ave., N.E., Salem, OR 97303; (800) 720-6339; dfw.or.us
• BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: Prineville District, 3050 NE 3rd st., Prineville, OR 97754; (541) 416-6700 • Vale District, 100 Oregon St., Vale, OR 97918; 541-473-3144; blm.gov/or/districts/vale